Reading: We'll do a quick reflection on our biography unit and then get to work with our Dick King-Smith author study. Students are learning how to have literature discussions with these books. Each child has a role and everyone is responsible for reporting out on some aspect of the book they're reading. Roles will change as we go along. This is a great way for students to practice some higher levels of thinking.

Our writing focus for the next few weeks is informational writing. I'm using a unit from Lucy Calkins which will take us in-depth with revision strategies as we write information books about a subject that we know a lot about. This week we'll be working on our rought drafts of all of our chapters as we incorporate different text structures.

Students wanting to participate in the Dec. spelling bee should be practicing the words from the spelling bee list I sent home a couple of weeks ago for additional practice. We'll have a couple of practice bees this week and one next week. The acutal Bee is Dec. 13 so I'd like to have our class' participants chosen the week before so they can focus on their preparation.

Social Studies: We'll continue our study of latitude and longitude as well as work on our Imaginary Maps. Maps are due Thursday.

Other items: Thank you for your support with our Read-A-Thon! All pledges and forms need to be turned in today. Friday evening from 6:30 -8:30 is the Read-A-Thon celebratory activity night. Students are encouraged to come. See information regarding the Read-A-Thon celebration Nov. 22 at the bottom of this page.

I am sending home a homework assignment today that I'd like students to bring back Dec. 3. I need every student to think of a positive compliment about each of their classmates. The compliments need to be written in nice handwriting between the lines on their form and they need to address behaviors/attitudes rather than physical attributes. The more specific they can be the better. Thank you for helping with this.

Friday is a student council sponsored spirit day. Dress like one of your Role Models...these can be anyone who would qualify as a role model, real or fictional.

Wednesday is an Early Release Day. Buses will run at 1:45 when school is dismissed.

I have shared the process with students for making Scrapbooks for their next book report. These are due Dec. 12. I suggest that students read their book with a few sticky notes so they can mark possible scrapbook entry pages as they read. See the details at the bottom of this page.

Please continue to collect box tops for us as there is another drive taking place in Feb.

I will be out of state the three days prior to Thanksgiving to visit my grandsons and their parents. :) Ms. Smith will be our guest teacher, and she loves our class so they will be in good hands. If you need to get a message to your child please call the office. Feel free to send me emails if you have questions or concerns. I hope you enjoy the time with your family.

Scrapbook Directions for Dec. 12 Book Report

Scrapbook Book Report

You will need to select a realistic fiction or historical fiction book. The book needs to be in the neighborhood of 100 pages unless you have discussed this with me. Choose a main character from your book.

As you read the book look for events that are important to the story and to the main character. When you find an event you might want to use put a sticky note in the book with the page number written on it.

When you have finished reading the book choose five of the events that you thought were important.

Choose five objects (one to represent each of the events you’ve chosen) to create your scrapbook.

Put one object on each page. On lined paper write the page number that relates to the object, the approx. date and location that relates to the event and at least three sentences that explain the importance of the object to your character.

Continue this for all of the objects and put the pages of your character’s scrapbook in the same order that they occurred in the story.

Make a cover page with your character’s name on it. Then make a title page that includes the name of the book, the author’s name, your name and the date.

Homer, AK

Role Model Spirit Day

When

Friday, Nov. 22nd, 8:30am

Where

995 Soundview Avenue

Homer, AK

Student Council sponsored spirit day; students are encouraged to dress like one of their role models. Suggested examples could include parents :), athletes, celebrities, characters from books, relatives, historical characters, etc. Clothing still needs to be appropriate for school.